The housing situation in Kildare has reached a point of crisis. The overwhelming majority of cases raised by constituents who come into my office looking for help relates to housing. New figures show that in the first quarter of 2026 alone, the RTB received 250 notices of termination in Kildare, an increase of almost 100 compared to the same period last year. Nationally, evictions rose by 50%. These figures are a damning indictment of the Government's recent housing policy. Renters are being squeezed to breaking point – forced back into their parent's homes, driven abroad and, in far too many cases, pushed into homelessness. Kildare County Council's homelessness team confirmed to me just last week that it is currently overwhelmed with cases. There are no emergency accommodation vacancies available in the county, while the family hubs are operating waiting lists. As a result, large numbers of people in Kildare are now relying on the homelessness freephone services and families can be allocated a different hotel every night, in many cases outside the county. This is unacceptable for anyone but it is especially traumatic for young families trying to maintain some sense of normality in their lives. I am currently dealing with several cases involving single mothers who have either been evicted or are facing eviction imminently. No child should have to endure this level of instability and disruption in a State running a budget surplus of almost €10 billion. Many other vulnerable groups, including older people, are affected by the Government-sanctioned wave of evictions across my constituency. Even those who can somehow afford the astronomical rents being charged in Kildare have difficulty finding accommodation. For families depending on HAP, securing a tenancy has become virtually impossible.

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